Palmer's struggles continue as Sanchez, Jackson Impress
Cole Palmer may have looked with jealous eyes when he saw how match winners Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez took the applause after Chelsea's Nervy victory on Everton.
The trio all came under fire during the fragmentary form of the blues in 2025, but at least two managed to claim joint responsibility for a victory that came closer to Champions League qualification.
A first goal since December for Jackson, a player-of-the-match clean sheet from Sanchez. But another afternoon of entering water for Palmer.
No shots, as many fit in the last third as Levi Colwill, and another game without a target contribution, which reflects 14 of his previous 16 games.
The English star was unable to do his first 18 months at Stamford Bridge and still has 22 goals and assists combined this season, but currently looks no confidence or ideas.
He walked down blind alleys and rarely looked dangerous against Everton, but Enzo Maresca still tried to hang him up by praising his performance after the game.
“Hopefully Cole will score soon, but his performance today were very good, he sacrificed a lot, he pressed very well,” he said. The fact that Palmer's praise is limited to his work without the ball saying it all.
But how to solve it? Even Maresca does not have the answer. Since there is little end product to lose with his current return, it may even be time to give him a spell from the spotlight.
Newcastle back in a strong position – but run – in is not easy
After the red card by Ben Johnson and the fine of Alexander Isak on the break, this became one of the most comfortable victories of the Newcastle season. But it is also one of their most important.
After that heavy loss in Aston Villa last weekend, their progress stopped, this was an immediate return to the head of the Champions League race. While some of their rivals for a top five finish focused on FA Cup matches at Wembley, Newcastle brought itself into an impressive position. It's in their hands.
Eddie Howe warned that the benefit can run quickly – and to come with Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton, the Run -in van Newcastle is not easy. But this answer to the Villa loss has rejuvenated their prospects. Peter Smith
Ipswich proudly takes the Premier League campaign despite relegation
Ipswich joins Southampton and Leicester to relegate back to the championship, but perhaps unlike those other parties, the players of Kieran McKenna go down with their heads. 'Pride' is a word that the head coach uses in his interviews after the game after the defeat in Newcastle confirmed their fate.
After back-to-back promotions chose his side from League One to the top flight, this first season back in the Premier League would always be a huge step. And so it is proven.
There were avoidable problems here – Ben Johnson's second yellow after his hard first and Julio Enciso's wrong on Jacob Murphy. But McKenna said he could not have any complaints about the dedication of his players during the season. In the end, they just didn't have the quality to compete week-in, week-in.
The goal will be to return quickly and use this campaign – and its considerable funds, perhaps from the sale of Liam Delap in the summer – as a springboard. Ipswich is a club that is still going in the right direction, even if they have to deteriorate for the time being. Peter Smith
Pointless positives as West Ham implodes again
“It is a mentality problem” Niclas Fullkrug claimed in his destructive post-match interview last weekend and the same could be applied to the late defeat of West Ham in Brighton.
How did they work together to lose a match when they proceed with another five minutes? Baas Graham Potter then raged and this time he was the one who took a wipe to the players.
“There are always things we can do,” he said. “But in the end the players are there too. I have to answer these questions, but there are players on the field.”
Their late collapse summarizes their messy season and Potter has not held favors. Only three victories in his 14 games that are in charge has only reduced hope around a European push next season.
Potter's great frustration was exacerbated by the fact that West Ham had played well in the second half. During the break, Potter fascinated the hymns of the fans to take Fullkrug, but it was Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen on either side of him who benefited the most from the change.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka continued to shine on his raids along the right flank. Lucas Paqueta had played adults in a deeper role in midfield. Everything was made meaningless.
“I'm tired of talking about positives,” said Potter. And he will certainly be fed up with this season. David Richardson
Leicester goes from bad to worse at Wolves
Leicester was surpassed by Wolves while she sinks in Molineux to a 3-0 defeat that underlines why they leave the Premier League. Jamie Vardy, the departing hero, even managed to see a penalty saved while the malaise goes for the foxes.
If there had been a piece of optimism to take out of their draw in Brighton, followed by that narrow reverse against Liverpool, this was another sound that was right in front of Ruud van Nistelrooy that emphasizes the need for a complete revision in the summer.
Los in possession and looser in their pressure without the ball, they made it too easy for a Wolves side that only achieved their second victory with three or more goals without giving up this season – and the other of them was in the reverse fixture.
De Vossen could have been eight points of Wolves after 17 games that day in December. Now they are 23 points behind them after 34. It is a remarkable contrast that emphasizes the spectacular change from Wolves, but terribly reflects on Leicester.
It is now only one point of 11 games, where Van Nistelrooy cuts an increasingly deserted figure. He has had to shift from talking about the end with pride, but even the call to ensure that Vardy's career ends at the club, it seems to be positive not to come.
Perhaps the most damn verdict of his counterpart Vitor Pereira came, who regularly talked about how emotional draining he thinks it is on the touchline. “Today I didn't lose much energy,” he said afterwards. “The game was checked.” Adam Bate